ABSTRACT
Clinical placements are important in the learning processes of nursing students. In Norway, clinical placement in nursing homes is obligatory for nursing students, and this is a demanding and complex setting for learning. This study aimed to assess how first-year nursing students perceived their learning environment in nursing homes and to explore which factors in the clinical learning environment had the greatest influence on students’ overall satisfaction with their clinical placement. Students rated their perceptions of the psychosocial learning environment using the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory. Students perceived the learning environment as moderately positive. Mean scores were the highest on the Personalization subscale and the lowest on the Innovation subscale. Students who highly valued Innovation, Involvement, and Personalization had higher scores on the Satisfaction subscale. The results of this study indicate that major work is needed to develop the learning context for students in nursing homes.
AUTHORS
Received: May 16, 2008
Accepted: December 29, 2008
Posted: August 28, 2009
Ms. Berntsen is Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Telemark University College, Porsgrunn, and Ms. Bjørk is Associate Professor, Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
The authors thank Professor Darell Fisher, Curtin University, for his advice and encouragement during the planning phase of this study.
Address correspondence to Karin Berntsen, MNSc, RN, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Telemark University College, Postbox 203, N-3901-Porsgrunn, Norway; e-mail: karin.berntsen@hit.no.
doi:10.3928/01484834-20090828-06
